File fob continuous sheets



Jan. '9, 1951 C. H. SWENSON 2,537,172

FILE FOR CONTINUOUS SHEETS Filed April 16, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 'CHARLES H. SWENSON ATTORNEY c. H. sw'ENso'N FILE FOR CONTINUOUS SHEETS Jan. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1947 INVENTOR CHARLES H. SWENSON ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 FILE FOR CONTINUOUS SHEETS Charles H. Swenson, Plainfield, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Union Carbide and 'Carbon Corporation, a corporation of N ew York Application April 16, 1947, Serial No. 741,703

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fan folded strips such as are used in many offices in recording statistical data and has for anobject to provide means to retain the strips against unfolding and getting out of order and to thereby avoid confusion and delay. This invention also relates to folders for sheets and especially fan folded sheets which have data arranged in columns transversely of the folder pivotal edge and has for an object to provide a heading for such columns arranged on the inside of a flap whereby such heading is available as a guide for each sheet without any of the sheets having to have reference headings provided on them.

In many offices statistical data of various sorts are recorded simultaneously on the desired number of copies in tabulating machines using continuous fan folded strips of paper having perforations along their longitudinal edges to insure correct registry of all copies. Although the use of such data sheets has been widespread for many years, the actual handling and filing of them has long remained troublesome, especially where considerable lengths of such fan folded sheets are used. In turning over or paging through these fan folded sheets on a desk or in carrying or filing them, there has also been the danger of the folded mass or stack being released or dropped, entailing delay in restoring and refolding the many sheets as they should be folded, or else confusion results in not doing so.

According to this invention these difliculties have been eliminated by providing a ring type fastener through perforations adjacent the pivotal edges. Such ring fastener may be only at the ends and not intermediate the ends of such pivotal edges because an intermediate ring type fastener if used may pass through typing on or near the folds rendering such typing illegible.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a fan folded sheet or continuous strip l adapted for fastening in the folder.

I1 and 18;

Fig. 2 shows the continuous strip fastened in the folder;

Fig. 3 shows the folder closed;

Fig. 4 shows the folder open, large fastener rings having been used.

The elongated strip I0 is provided with perforations ll adjacent the longitudinal edges for accurately positioning the various sheets in the tabulating machine, according to customary practice. Also under this existing practice these elongated strips ID of whatever length is desired are gompactly fan folded as illustrated in the lower cular fastening rings.

right portion of Fig. 1. Such fan folds are similar to large accordion pleats. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the typing is upon only one face of sheet I0 and arranged in columns parallel to and between the edge feed perforations l I of the sort usually found in paper for tabulating machines into which extend projections which assist in feeding the paper through the machine. In order to page through the entire sheet the edges l2 constitute pivotal portions about which the rest of the folded portions are moved like the pages of a book to render all parts of the typing accessible to view. To keep the fan folded sheet in order against unfolding, ring type fasteners l5 and it are passed through perforations l3 and I4 respectively adjacent the pivotal edges to keep all the portions of the folded sheet against getting unfolded. The ring type fasteners are of a size depending on the thickness of the fan folded stack. Where the fan folded strip is cut in lengths of comparatively few pages a ring having an inside diameter at about /2 may suflice but of course with thicker stacks of fan folded material rings of larger diameter are needed. The rin type fastener is not intended to be limited to cir- Locking rings have also been found useful and these may be made of metal or plastic material. Additional ring fasteners intermediate those shown at the ends are not adapted for use because were such to be used they would be in danger of having to pass through typing or some portions of it rendering the same illegible and it is to preserve the entire typed material on the sheet I0 that the end fasteners I5 and [6 only are used.

The fan folded strip H) is inserted in the folder shown at the upper left portion of Fig. 1 by opening the fasteners l5 and I6 and inserting them through the perforations l3 and M as described.

One side of the cover portion H is shorter than the opposite or back side I8 inasmuch as the latter is provided with a flap I9 adapted to be folded along the scored line 20 or 2| according to the thickness of the folder and to extend over the front side I! as shown in Fig. 3. In order to facilitate reading the several columns of letters, symbols or figures a label 22 for headings for these columns is pasted on the inside of the flap as shown in Fig. 2 in order that such label may serve as appropriate heading to designate each column as the several folded pages are turned for reading the data on the entire strip [0. Depending on the nature of use and purpose of the data, of course the headings and therefore the label 22 will need to be changed. The material of this label can be provided on the inside of the flap l9 but it has been found preferable to have the labels provided in various forms and pasted on the inside of the flap as shown in Fig. 2. This practice enables the meaning of all columns to be understood without the separate parts or pages having to bear headings of their own.

Fig. 4 shows how larger diameter ring type fasteners l5a and lfia may be used where the fan folded stack is thicker than in Fig. 2, and when using such larger diameter fastener rings, perforations back from ones next to the pivotal fold may be used to give the several pages a greater factor of safety against the fastener tearing or pulling out of a perforation. As shown in Fig. 4 several stacks may be bound by a single pair of ring type fasteners, one group of pages may have the heading 22a. pasted on the back of the flap or cover I9 and another heading strip 225 pasted on the back of an additional flap or intermediate cover portion. The sheet lBb containing the label 225 may be the back of an additional cover or may be constituted by a separate sheet 13b inserted between the front and the back or cover sheet lBa.

The cover portions I? and It) may be of jute or other stock of the desired stiffness. More than two scored portions 29 and 2| may be used to adapt the rear cover portion for different thicknesses of the fan foldedpaper.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the ease of handling reference and filing reports, maintaining thefan folded strip in order against unfolding or falling out. The ring fastener passing through perforations adjacent the pivotal edges mak the entire strip of fan folded paper adapted to be easily inspected just as the pages of a book may be turned and inspected. The flap of the fold being provided with a heading strip enables the meaning of any column to be apparent in any part of the fan folded stack or strip. In case of necessity additional partial strips or pages may be inserted wherever desired. From the drawing it may be seen that the separable fastener rings illustrated are stiff and smooth as is usual. They also project away from the plane of the paper to guide a page in being turned as in a book without tearing.

Iclaim: v

1. In a binder having a pair of covers for receiving therebetween a fanfold continuous strip of the sort having spaced feed perforations along opposite longitudinal edges adapting said strip for receiving typewriting upon one face thereof in a tabulatin machine laterally between said, perforations, the combination therewith of the improvement for retaining such fanfold strip against becoming unfastened while leaving the strip available for easy accessibility for opening like a book without detracting from the availability of said entire one face of said strip for typing on said one side between said perforations, said improvement comprising a pair of stiff ring type separable fasteners of a size for passing through said covers and located at corner portions of the covers to be passed through pairs of said perforations which are equally adjacent opposite ends of the folds about which portions of said strip are pivotally moved in use of said strip as the pages of a book, there being no fastener intermediate those of said pair, said fasteners being shaped to extend above the plane of the paper to guide said pivotal portions in being turned as the pages of a book.

2. A binder according to claim 1 in which one of said cover portions is longer than the other in the direction of said perforations, whereby headings' are adapted to be placed on said longer cover portion as a guide for columns on the fanfolds of said strip.

CHARLES H. SWENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 416,373 OMarra Dec. 3, 1886 1,053,464 Young Feb. 18, 19 3 1,529,264 Mayers Mar. 10, 1925 1,942,564 Morehead Jan. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,458 Great Britain 1902 317,373 Germany Dec. 15, 1919 

